Northern Rockies Holistic Management Survey Results

Northern Rockies Holistic Management Survey Results

Charley Orchard surveyed a large group of ranchers in an attempt to document the changes they had experienced as a result of practicing Holistic Management

The disadvantage of Holistic Management is that it forces you to sit down, think, and plan things out. The advantage of Holistic Management is that it forces you to sit down, think, and plan things out.

Forty-three ranch managers in the Northern Rockies (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho) who had received training and had been practicing Holistic Management for two or more years, agreed to participate in our study through telephone interviews and written surveys. Without exception, these managers all believe the land is evolving toward the holistic goal established for the ranch. Over half (56%) of them indicate they annually meet with team members and review their holistic goals. Among the significant results, land monitoring shows that Holistic Management works not just for land managers, but for the land itself:

Stocking Rates Increased

Eighty-five percent of the managers created and documented a yearly grazing plan, and 87% have changed their grazing management strategy. The majority (86%) have increased stocking rate, 97% have increased stock density, 77% have grouped livestock together, and 95% have obtained positive results from trampling. These ranchers are increasing stock density and stocking rate by adding cross fencing and/or increasing herd size. Some have upped stocking rates 30% to 50%.

Livestock performance improves along with the health and vigor of the land: